Regardless of main the AFC South, the Houston Texans have been on shaky floor with their offense to date this season. The bottom will get even shakier now, as NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport stories that broad receiver Stefon Diggs tore his ACL and is out for the remainder of the season.
This can be a large blow to the Texans’ offense, who got here into the season with excessive expectations however have fallen quick in lots of areas. They’re nineteenth in EPA per play, and regardless of excessive stage play from QB CJ Stroud, every thing else across the sign caller has change into kinda bizarre. The Texans can’t run the ball, their move safety is perhaps worse, and the receiving core has taken a large hit with Diggs out. That is on high of shedding famous person WR Nico Collins to a hamstring damage that’s had him on IR, with no timetable for his return.
What this implies for Houston is that the opposite receivers down the depth chart should step up. WR Tank Dell is a enjoyable piece to have within the offense, however now he must step up and be the primary receiver whereas Collins returns to type. This might additionally imply extra reps for receivers Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods. Woods is a dependable receiver and a very good blocker for the place, however Hutchinson may assist elevate that offense with out Diggs. Nevertheless, the Texans are third within the NFL in proportion of snaps with two tight ends on the sphere, so this might result in extra of TE’s Cade Stover and Dalton Schultz within the passing sport.
Houston’s schedule doesn’t get any simpler after this, both. After a Halloween evening tilt with the Jets, they face the Lions, Chiefs and Ravens to spherical out the season. the margin for error will get a lot thinner because the street to the playoffs will get slightly extra crowded. They’ve constructed themselves a fairly good lead within the division, particularly with the Jaguars and Colts having no thought what they’re doing and the Titans actively tanking.
Nevertheless, this damage goes to play a giant position of their shot at going past the divisional spherical.
